Man of the House
JaneFumm
Chapter One - And He Says We're Poor...
When Harry Potter opened his eyes he noticed something was rather strange about his surroundings. For one thing, he couldn't hear Aunt Petunia screaming for him to wake up. In fact, he could hear Hermiones voice telling someone that something was 'preposterous' and 'illogical'. He also heard someone humming, and a toad croaking.
"Umm... were are my glasses?" He asked the blurry world around him holding out his hand.
"Here you go, mate." Ron's voice said, handing Harry his glasses.
"Thanks." Harry muttered while placing his glasses on the bridge of his nose. After regaining his sight Harry scanned his surroundings. He found he was in the Headmasters office. But he wasn't the only one. As he all ready knew, Hermione was there. As was Ron. But Ginny, Luna and Neville were all there as well. Luna, the one who had been humming, was still humming and rocking back and forth. Neville was holding his pet toad, Trevor, and stroking him with his thumb. He had an appearance that suggested that he wasn't all there. Ginny, who was pacing the length of one of the walls turned to Harry and gave him a grim smile.
"Hey Harry." She said.
"Hi." He said back, feeling rather foolish.
"Yes, hello Harry," a new voice said. Harry turned in his set to face Dumbledore, Ron, and Hermione.
"Hello Professor Dumbledore."
"I suppose your wondering why your here?" The old man asked, cleaning off imaginary dust from his desk.
"Well, yeah. Yes." Harry stammered, trying to be polite to Dumbledore. Seeing as their last conversation was far from it.
"It seems, that by imprisoning Lucius Malfoy you (that is the six of you) have angered his son."
"Yes,"
"And he's out for revenge."
"On us?"
"On you."
"Oh,"
"'Oh' indeed." Dumbledore agreed with the nod of his white head. "Anyway, as I was telling Miss Granger before you awoke, you six will need to go into hiding,"
"Harry," Hermione hissed, "he wants us to hide with Snape!"
"Well, it is the most unlikely place. Young Mr. Malfoy would hardly think to look there." Dumbledore said, frowning slightly at Hermione. Ron looked like he was just about to say something about Snape when Ginny turned to the headmaster.
"What about our families?" She asked harshly. "Hmm? What about them?"
"I haven't got a family." Luna whispered before Dumbledore could answer Ginny. Harry looked at Luna (who had gone back to humming) then at Hermione. She told him about Luna's father. And at curtain parts of the retelling Luna would give a sort if strangled sob and hum louder.
After Hermione was done Harry went to sit down on the floor next to Luna. He knew just having someone sitting next to you could help. And at that moment Luna needed it.
333
Hours later, the six teenagers were standing out side of a small house in a slummy part of London. The girls and Neville were huddled together looking slighting uneasy, but trying to pull on brave faces.
Harry looked like he was trying to decide whither he should walk up to the front door or not, seeing as the house looked a bit deserted.
Ron, on the other hand, looked like Christmas had come early.
"And he thinks we're poor, eh Ginny?" He joked, nudging Ginny's shoulder with his own. She tried to look displeased, but was failing miserably.
"Oh Ron! Don't be so cruel!" Hermione said shrilly, trying to hide the fact that she had found the comment rather funny. Then she added uneasily, "I'm sure it's lovely. On the inside."
"Yeah, just as lovely as Snape, I'll bet." Neville grumbled. Of all the teens Neville was taking the whole situation about living with Snape the worst.
"Well," Luna said, taking a step forward. "He can't so bad. He is taking us in, after all."
"Because Dumbledore told him to." Ginny said bitterly. She still wasn't happy that Dumbledore hadn't ever told them what was going to happen to their families.
"Yes, but why is he doing what Dumbledore says?" Luna asked, twirling on a bit of hair.
"Because he's loyal to Dumbledore." Ron said. Taking a step forward as well.
"And because of that?" Luna prompted, starring at Hermione, Ginny, Harry and Neville.
Hermione closed her eyes and sighed. "Then, if he's loyal to Dumbledore he can't be all bad because Dumbledore is an excellent judge of character."
"Exactly." Luna said smiling.
"Well, then, what are we standing here for?" Harry asked, striding forward to the front door.
"I guess nothing." Ginny said as she and Hermione joined Harry at the front door. "Ron?"
"Nope. Nothin'" He responded, also joining Harry at the door.
Luna didn't wait to be invited, she just walked up and dragged a very unhappy Neville with her.
They all looked at Harry for a moment before he realized he was supposed to knock on the door.
"Oh!" He squeaked (much to his embarrassment.).
Harry rang the door bell.
The six teens waited.
Then the door opened to reveal a very tired looking Snape.
"Don't just stand there! Get inside!" He barked.
A/N: Sorry, I forgot to say this before. This is not mine. The idea or the characters or the setting. This is all J.K. Rowling and Hotkat144. I got this idea from the 'Man of the House' challenge. Sorry, I forgot to say that before.
Anyway, I tried to make this chapter funnier. And longer. Tell me if you like-y and I'll keep going. :)
Okay, so, this chapter came a little earlier then I had frist thought it would. Don't get your hopes up though. I get random and really thick writers block at strange moments. So the next chapter will be here, by the latest, on Sunday.
Review!